Ballroom Dance "Zhashtyk"

KYRGYZ BALL DANCES. “ZHASHTYK” (YOUTH)

The dance is based on Kyrgyz folk movements and is designed for a wide range of youth. The content of the dance and the music correspond to the character of the dance composition. The dance should be performed lively and energetically, with enthusiasm and temperament.

The music consists of two parts — 12 measures, with the repetition of the second part making a total of 16 measures. The dance has four figures, each figure occupies four measures of musical accompaniment.

The ball dance “Zhashtyk” (“Youth”) was created by choreographer A. Begaliev for the All-Union competition of mass performers and was shown in Moscow at the final round of this competition in September 1965.

Description of the Dance

Starting position — the young man and the girl stand side by side, half-turned towards each other, facing the line of dance, with the left shoulder towards the center.

The young man's right hand and the girl's left hand are joined; the young man's left hand is on his left hip, and the girl's right hand is freely lowered palm down (see fig. 250).

FIRST PART
First Figure

Step with a leg extension to the side (4 measures).
1—4 measures The dancers perform a step with a leg extension to the side on the heel (first movement). The young man starts with the right foot, the girl — with the left.

On the 4th measure of the music, the young man and the girl move along the line of dance (see figs. 251 and 252).

At the end of the 4th measure, the young man offers his left hand to the girl (see fig. 252).

The girl places her right hand on the young man's left hand (see fig. 253).

Second Figure

Heel steps (4 measures)
On the 5th — 8th measures, the dancers, holding each other with both hands, perform the second movement. The young man and the girl start with the right foot, their arms at the level of the 1st position (heads slightly tilted to the right) and move in a circle counterclockwise.

At the end of the 8th measure, the girl lowers her arms down to the starting position, while the young man places both hands in front of his left hip.

SECOND PART

Third Figure

Catching and swinging (4 measures)
On the 9th — 10th measures, the young man and the girl perform the third movement (swinging) to the right, then — to the left (see fig. 254).

On the 11th — 12th measures of the music, the dancers perform the fourth movement (running with a lunge).

After the “Swinging” movement, the young man, performing the fourth movement, opens both arms to the 2nd position, as if he wants to embrace the girl; the girl, guessing the young man's intention, runs under his left arm.

At the end of the 12th measure, the dancers turn their backs to each other: the young man with his back to the center of the circle, and the girl facing it.

Fourth Movement

Repetition of the second part of the music (9th — 12th measures).

On the 9th — 10th measures, the performers stand back to each other, the young man wants to meet the girl's gaze, and the girl, shyly avoiding his gaze, turns her body slightly to the right, performing the fifth movement (search) to the right and left (see figs. 255 and 256).

On the 11th — 12th measures, the dancers perform the sixth movement (steps with a turn). At the end of the 12th measure, the young man and the girl return to the starting position (see fig. 250).

The dance is repeated from the beginning.

Description of Movements

Movement 1.
Performed over 4 measures.
Musical meter — 2/4.
Starting position — natural position of the legs, the young man is on the left side of the girl. With his right hand, the young man holds the girl's left hand, while his left hand is on his hip, and the girl's right hand is slightly lowered down; they stand half-turned towards each other (see fig. 250).

one The girl steps forward with her left foot, and the young man with his right foot, taking a small step along the line of dance.
two The girl places her right foot on the heel to the right forward (at a distance of one foot from her left foot), simultaneously rotating her right wrist outward, watching the movement of her right hand with her eyes, while the young man does the same movement with his left foot, his left hand remaining in its initial position (see fig. 251).

one The girl steps forward with her right foot, and the young man with his left foot along the line of dance.
two The girl places her left foot on the heel to the left, simultaneously rotating her right wrist, she covers her left cheek with her hand, palm outward (shy), peeking coyly at the young man from behind her palm, while the young man places his right foot on the heel to the right and offers his left hand to the girl, palm up (see fig. 252).

one The movement “one” of the first measure is repeated,
two The girl takes a step forward with her right foot (half-turn towards the young man), bringing her left foot to her right foot in the sixth position and simultaneously offering her right hand to the young man. The young man steps forward with his left foot (half-turn towards the girl), offers his left hand to the girl, and brings his right foot to his left foot in the sixth position.

Movement 2.
Performed over 4 measures.
Musical meter 2/4.
Starting position — sixth position of the legs. The dancers face each other, holding hands, their heads tilted to the left, looking at each other (see fig. 253).

upbeat “and” lift the right leg.
one A small step forward with the right foot, slightly to the right on the heel. The left knee is slightly bent.
and Slightly bounce on the left foot, placing it next to the right foot, simultaneously sharply lowering the right foot to the full foot and immediately lifting it slightly up, bending at the knee.

The movement is repeated from the beginning. The dancers move in a circle counterclockwise.

At the end of the 4th measure, upon reaching their places, the dancers separate their hands. The girl lowers her hands down, while the young man places his hands in front of his left hip.

Movement 3. Swinging.
Performed over 2 measures.
Musical meter 2/4.
Starting position — first position of the legs. The girl's hands are lowered down, while the young man's hands are in front of his left hip.

one The dancers step to the right, the girl rotates her wrists.
two Transfer the weight of the body to the right foot, lifting the heel of the left foot off the floor. Tilting their bodies to different sides, the dancers look at each other (see fig. 254).

In the second measure, the movements are repeated in the opposite direction. At the end of the second measure, the young man opens both arms to the second position, palms up.

Movement 4. Running with a lunge.
Performed over 2 measures.
Musical meter 2/4.
Starting position — legs in the second position, weight of the body on the left leg.

one Run forward with the right foot, the girl tilts her body down, while the young man bends slightly. The girl's hands are lowered down with palms turned outward, while the young man's are opened to the second position.
two Run with the left foot.

one Run with the right foot, during which the dancers straighten their bodies, the girl's hands are to the side between the first and second positions, while the young man moves his hands from the second position to the first (not catching the girl),
two The performers bring their left foot next to their right foot in the first position, while the young man places his hands in front of his left hip.

Movement 5. Search.
Performed over 2 measures.
Musical meter 2/4.
Starting position — first position of the legs.

one The dancers step to the right on the heel into the second position (see fig. 255).
two Step with the right foot onto the full foot, transferring the weight of the body onto it, simultaneously turning the body half-turn to the right, lifting the left foot off the floor. The girl rotates her wrists with both hands. The young man and the girl try to find each other with their eyes.

The movement is repeated to the left (see fig. 256).

Movement 6. Steps with a turn.
Performed over 2 measures.
Musical meter 2/4.
Starting position — sixth position of the legs. The young man stands with his back to the circle, the girl faces out of the circle.

Movement of the young man:

one Step with the right foot, turning right by 90°.
two Step across with the left foot to the right over the right foot, continuing the turn to the right by 90°.

one Step with the right foot to the right along the line of dance by 90°.
two Bring the left foot next to the right foot in the first position.

Movement of the girl:

one Step with the right foot, turning right by 90°.
two Step across with the left foot to the right over the right foot, continuing the turn to the right by 90°.

one Step with the right foot in place with a turn of 180°.
two Bring the left foot next to the right foot in the first position.